If you've never heard of the Caesar cocktail, you're in for a savory (and surprisingly delicious) treat. It's completely different from the appletinis and frozen daiquiris that your sweet tooth might enjoy, but this cocktail is worth trying, especially if you're a fan of a good ol' bloody mary. Infused with clam tomato juice and Worcestershire sauce, this cocktail may bring you over from the sweet to savory side of the bar.
How to Make a Cesar Cocktail
There are a lot of similarities between the basic Caesar drink and the classic bloody Mary. The primary difference lies in using clam-tomato juice and a rim of celery salt in the Caesar versus tomato juice in the Bloody Mary.
Ingredients
- 1 lime wedge
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 2 dashes hot sauce
- 2 ounces vodka
- 4 ounces clam-tomato juice
- Ice
- Pickled vegetables, Spanish olives, and citrus wedges for garnish
Instructions
- Run the lime wedge around the rim of a pint glass.
- Spread the celery salt in a thin layer on a saucer. Dip the rim of the pint glass in the salt and fill the glass with ice. Set aside.
- In a pint glass or a Boston shaker, combine the lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, vodka, and clam tomato juice.
- Roll the drink between two glasses (pour it from glass to glass) for about 30 seconds to mix.
- Pour into the prepared glass. Garnish with pickled vegetables, olives, and citrus wedges as desired.
The Caesar cocktail is a uniquely Canadian mixed drink invented in 1969 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, at Calgary Inn (now Westin Hotel). The restaurant manager, Walter Chell, was asked to develop a signature drink to open the hotel's Italian restaurant. The drink was inspired by an Italian pasta recipe, spaghetti alle vongole (spaghetti with clam sauce).
Variations
Like its cousin, the Bloody Mary, the Caesar has many options to spice it up.
- Add more hot sauce for a spicier drink.
- Add ½ teaspoon of chipotle chili powder or smoked paprika for a smokier, spicy cocktail.
- Replace the vodka with tequila.
- Add a dash of sriracha.
- Replace the celery salt with Old Bay seasoning.
Garnishes
Savory cocktails are fun to garnish because you have so many options. Consider some of the following garnish ideas:
- Celery stalk
- Dill pickle
- Capers
- Olives
- Lemon and lime wedges
- Whole pickled chili pepper
- Pickled bean
- Pickled asparagus
- Slice of cooked bacon
- Cherry tomato
- Pickled onions
Spicy Caesar for the Win
The Caesar is slightly spicier than the Bloody Mary, with a distinct brine edge from the clam-tomato juice. Nonetheless, it's a flavorful cocktail that'll take you for a ride on the savory side.
